Infant garment and removable bib

ABSTRACT

In combination, an infant garment and a removable bib. The infant garment is formed of washable fabric material and shaped to fit over a torso of an infant. A front panel of the infant garment bears a first decorative design permanently applied thereon which defines a first decorative perimeter border. The bib is also formed of washable fabric material and bears a second decorative design permanently applied thereon which defined a second perimeter border substantially identical to that of the first decorative design. The first and second decorative designs being substantially identical one to another. A releasable attachment between the bib and the first perimeter of the first decorative design preferably facilitates self-alignment whereby a decorative appearance of the infant garment is substantially similar when said bib is either attached atop the first decorative design to prevent soiling of said first decorative design or detached therefrom.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to infants' clothing and moreparticularly to an infant torso garment in combination with adecoratively designed separate removable bib which is releasablyattachable onto an identically mating design permanently applied to thefront surface of the infant garment.

2. Description of Related Art

The concept of a removable and separately launderable bib for infantgarments is generally well known. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,092, Tarantoteaches an infant bib which is permanently attachable to an upper torsoinfant garment, the bib being composed of a unique multi-layerarrangement of materials to achieve bib protection without annoying theinfant.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,382, Bernard teaches a place-on bib which isadapted for releasable attachment atop the upper body infant garment.Smith, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,269 teaches another combination garmentand bib system which includes a garment having an absorbent layer backedby a fluid impermeable layer positioned in front of the neck opening anda bib also having an absorbent layer backed by a fluid impermeablelayer. This bib is releasably attachable to the front of the garment toprovide a primary protection mode while the garment provides a secondaryprotection element.

An apparel stain protector is taught by Chester-Salter in U.S. Pat. No.6,047,402 for protecting the front of a user's garment from being soiledor stained by food or beverage. This protector appears to be disposableand is intended to provide a scarf cover for a necktie having releasableattachment means on one surface of each such apparel stain protectorsegment.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,493,879, Hibler teaches a reusable protectiveunornamental overlay with a pressure adhesive back onto the unornamentalfront surface of a torso garment. This device appears to be eitherdisposable or reusable. Koenig teaches a restraining garment withdetachable bib in U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,946. This arrangement provides anupper torso garment which may be utilized to safely restrain a child ina high chair while also providing a releasably attachable garmentcovering the front area of the garment.

A special garment for the disabled is taught by Brucato in U.S. Pat. No.4,754,500 which provides a front and back portion of the garment and aremovable outer front portion which protectively covers the frontportion of the garment during meals and beverage consumption and Odell,in U.S. Pat. No. 540,756, teaches a two-part bib arrangement wherein anunder bib is attached around and is supported by the neck of an infantwhile a second outer bib portion is releasably attachable thereatop forremoval and laundering.

The present invention teaches, in combination, an infant's torso garmenthaving a first decorative design permanently attached thereto byconventional means and a bib which is decoratively configured to matchall, or the main portion of, the first decorative design applied to theinfant garment. This unique feature of the present invention allows theinfant garment to maintain the same appearance for decoration purposeswhether the bib is in place or removed for laundering or when notneeded.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to, in combination, an infant garment and aremovable bib. The infant garment is formed of washable fabric materialand shaped to fit over a torso of an infant. A front panel of the infantgarment bears a first decorative design permanently applied thereonwhich defines a first decorative perimeter border. The bib is alsoformed of washable fabric material and bears a second decorative designpermanently applied thereon which defined a second perimeter bordersubstantially identical to that of the first decorative design. Thefirst and second decorative designs being substantially identical one toanother. A releasable attachment between the bib and the first perimeterof the first decorative design preferably facilitates self-alignmentwhereby a decorative appearance of the infant garment is substantiallysimilar when said bib is either attached atop the first decorativedesign to prevent soiling of said first decorative design or detachedtherefrom.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide, in combination,an infant garment and a removable launderable bib which facilitatesmaintaining the identical decorative appearance of the infant garmentwhether the bib is in place or has been removed for laundering andstorage.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparenthereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of yet another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of still another embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, oneembodiment of the invention is there shown generally at numeral 10. Thisembodiment 10 includes a torso garment 12 having a body 14 formed offlexible fabric material which is preferably launderable and covers atleast the upper torso of an infant. Fabric body 14 includes a frontsurface 16 having a decorative design 22 having the appearance of ateddy bear permanently applied thereto in any conventional fashion suchas by silk screening, embroidery, heat transfer, and the like. Within aperimeter 18 of the decorative design 22 will be found two buttons 20which are conveniently placed within the profile of the ears of thedecorative design 22.

A bib 24 is also provided formed of flexible fabric material which iswashable as needed. The bib 24 has a decorative design 26 whichsubstantially identically matches the decorative design 22 permanencyapplied to the front torso area 16 of the infant garment 12.Additionally, the perimeter 29 of bib 24 identically matches theperimeter 18 of the decorative design 22.

The bib 24 is releasably attachable by providing button holes 28positioned in the ears of the teddy bear design 26 which are carefullyspaced and aligned with the buttons 20 permanently attached to the frontsurface 16 of the infant garment 12. By careful alignment of the buttonholes 28 with the buttons 20, the bib 24 is made releasably attachabledirectly onto, and maintained in full alignment and registry with thedecorative design 22 such that the overall decorative appearance of theinfant garment 12 of this embodiment 10 remains unchanged whether thebib 24 is in place during feeding or has been removed for launderingpurposes.

Referring now to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the invention is thereshown at numeral 30 and also includes an infant garment 32 having a body34 formed of flexible fabric material which is preferably launderable.Permanently applied to the front surface 36 of the infant garment 32 isanother decorative design 40 in the form of a sunflower having auniquely configured perimeter 38 permanently applied thereto.

In this embodiment 32, additional decorative material 42 has beenpermanently applied outside of the perimeter 38 of the decorative design40 and which complements and is decoratively compatible with thedecorative design 40. This embodiment 32 therefore provides the designopportunity for decoratively enhancing the front panel 36 of the infantgarment 32 into areas of the front panel 36 which are typically notsoiled or affected by baby feeding.

As a result, the bib 46, bearing a decorative design 48 and a perimeter52 which identically matches the decorative design 40 and perimeter 38permanently applied to the front panel 36 does not need to beexaggerated in size beyond the normal configuration of a removable bibfor protecting this critical area of the infant garment 32.

In this embodiment 30, releasable attachment of the bib 46 isaccomplished by mating VELCRO strips 44 and 50 which are againpositioned in spaced alignment fashion so as to facilitate theattachment of the bib 46 in precise alignment and registry with thepermanently attached decorative design 40 of the infant garment 32.

Another embodiment of the invention shown generally at numeral 60 inFIG. 3 also provides a decorative design 70 having a circular perimeter68 depicting a baseball which is compatible with additional decorativedesign portions 72 implying a batter striking the baseball 70 andsending it into flight. However, the critical soilage area is defined byperimeter 68 which identically mates with a perimeter 82 of a separatebib 76. The decorative design 78 identically matches that of thedecorative design 70 which has been permanently applied to the frontpanel 66 of the infant garment 62. Likewise, the perimeter 82 of bib 76identically matches the perimeter 68 of the decorative design 70. Properalignment between the decorative designs 70 and 78 when the bib 76 is inuse is facilitated by the careful placement of snaps 74 and 80 which arepermanently attached to the respective surfaces 66 of garment 62 and thereverse surface of the bib 76.

Lastly in FIG. 4, another embodiment of the invention is there showngenerally at numeral 90 and also includes an upper torso garment 92which primarily covers the upper torso area of an infant only in theform of either a shirt or dress. This embodiment 92 also includes adecorative design 100 in the form of a fish having a perimeter 98permanently applied to the front panel 96 of the infant garment 92.

The removable, launderable bib 104, also formed of flexible fabricmaterial, includes a decorative design 106 which identically mates withand matches the decorative design 100 applied to the front panel 96.Again, the perimeter 110 also identically matches the perimeter 98.

Releasable attachment of this embodiment 104 is achieved by buttons at102 and wherein the buttons 102 conveniently match a physical feature ofthe decorative design 100. By careful placement and spacing of thebutton holes 108 formed through the bib 104, careful alignment andregistry of the decorative design 106 atop the decorative design 100will be established and maintained so that, when the bib 104 is in use,the overall decorative appearance of the torso garment 92 is maintainedas being identical to the infant garment 92 alone.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in whatare conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosedherein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as toembrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.

1. In combination, an infant garment and removable bib, comprising: saidinfant garment formed of fabric material and shaped to fit over a torsoof an infant; a front panel of said infant garment bearing a firstdecorative design permanently applied thereon and having a firstdecorative perimeter border; said bib formed of fabric material bearinga second decorative design permanently applied thereon and having asecond perimeter border which is substantially identical to said firstperimeter border of said first decorative design; said first and seconddecorative designs being substantially identical one to another; areleasable attachment between said first decorative design and said bibfor self-aligning releasable attachment of said second perimeter of saidbib atop aligned with said first perimeter of said first decorativedesign whereby a decorative appearance of said infant garment issubstantially similar when said bib is either attached atop said firstdecorative design to prevent soiling of said first decorative design ordetached therefrom.
 2. An infant torso garment with separate removablebib, comprising: said infant garment formed of washable fabric materialand shaped to fit over a torso of an infant; a front panel of saidinfant garment bearing a first decorative design permanently appliedthereon and having a first decorative perimeter border; said bib formedof washable fabric material bearing a second decorative designpermanently applied thereon and having a second perimeter border whichis substantially identical to said first perimeter border of said firstdecorative design; said first and second decorative designs beingsubstantially identical one to another; said bib being releasablyattachable in self-aligning fashion atop said first decorative designwhereby a decorative appearance of said infant garment is substantiallysimilar when said bib is either attached atop said first decorativedesign to prevent soiling of said first decorative design or detachedtherefrom.
 3. In combination, an infant torso garment and separateremovable bib, comprising: said infant garment formed of washable fabricmaterial and shaped to fit over a torso of an infant; a front panel ofsaid infant garment bearing a first decorative design permanentlyapplied thereon and having a first decorative perimeter border definedaround a portion of said first decorative design; said bib formed ofwashable fabric material bearing a second decorative design permanentlyapplied thereon and having a second perimeter border which issubstantially identical to said first perimeter border of said firstdecorative design; said first and second perimeter borders beingsubstantially identical one to another; a releasable attachment betweensaid first decorative design and said bib for self-aligning releasableattachment of said second perimeter of said bib atop aligned with saidfirst perimeter of said first decorative design whereby a decorativeappearance of said infant garment is substantially similar when said bibis either attached atop said first decorative design to prevent soilingof said first decorative design or detached therefrom.